Lectors serve the parish by proclaiming the Word of God at Mass. When the Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself is speaking to his people, and Christ, present in his own word, is proclaiming the gospel. The readings of God’s word must therefore be listened to by all with reverence; they make up a principal element of the liturgy. In the readings, the table of God’s word is laid for the faithful and the riches of the Bible are opened to them. Such designated lectors must be truly qualified and carefully prepared for this office, so that the faithful will develop a warm and lively love for Sacred Scripture from listening to the reading from the sacred texts.  All lectors are asked to arrive to the sacristy fifteen minutes before their scheduled Mass. Please be attentive to the schedule and notify the Rectory Office 333-1568 as to any changes in the schedule.

If you are interested in serving as a Lector, please speak with the Pastor. 

St. Ambrose Parish is grateful for those who serve Christ and His Church as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.  As Bishop Tobin has stated, Your dedication helps to extend the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, to those who most need Him. In every celebration of the Eucharist, there should be a sufficient number of ministers of Holy Communion so that it may be distributed in a reverent and orderly manner. Bishops, priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion in virtue of their office as ordinary ministers of the Body and Blood of the Lord. When the size of the congregation or the incapacity of the bishop, priest, or deacon requires it, the celebrant may be assisted by other bishops, priests, or deacons. If such ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are not present, “the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, i.e., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may also depute suitable faithful for this single occasion (GIRM 162).”

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should receive sufficient spiritual, theological, and practical preparation to fulfill their role with knowledge and reverence. In all matters they should follow the guidance of the diocesan bishop (Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds for the Dioceses of the United States of America, NDRHC, no. 28).  All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread or wine. (NDRHC, 29).  In November of 2009, the Diocese of Providence issued new guidelines relative to extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.  The guidelines state that extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must be Roman Catholics whose qualities of Christian life, faith and morals recommend them; fully initiated Catholics who have received the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist; be at least 16 years old; if married, be in a wedding bond that is recognized (valid) in the Roman Catholic Church; and be regular participants in the sacramental life of the church.

Click here to read more about the new guidelines.

If you are interested in serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, please speak with the Pastor. 

“Gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him, as you desire to imitate Him.”-St. Clare of Assisi

Saint Clare, follower of the famous St Francis of Assisi, was born to a noble family of the town of Assisi, in Umbria, Italy in the year 1193. When her neighbor Francis gave away all his possessions to follow Jesus in poverty and prayer, Clare felt herself drawn to follow his example. Under his direction, she founded an order of contemplative nuns vowed to poverty, chastity, and obedience who are often known today as the “Poor Clares.” Clare’s deep union with the Lord and persistent prayers, often were rewarded by miracles. Twice, God saved the convent through the intercession of St. Clare. In September 1240, hoards of Saracen mercenaries attacked the walls of the monastery on their way to the city. Although very sick, St. Clare had herself carried to the wall and right there, where the enemies could see it, she had the Blessed Sacrament placed. Then on her knees, she begged God to save the Sisters, and suddenly for no humanly explainable reason the Saracens retreated. A similar situation occurred when the troops of Vitalis d’Aversa attacked Assisi in June of 1241. Again her deep devotion to the Eucharist brought her before the Blessed Sacrament and again the city was spared. Olive Jars were filled with oil after she blessed them. St. Clare experienced her own “multiplication of the loaves” when on another occasion, she fed 50 sisters and all the Franciscan friars with a single loaf of bread. Once a very heavy door came off its hinges and fell on top of her, but when a number of sisters in a panic rushed to lift it off, instead of finding her crushed, she was not harmed at all and said it felt no heavier than a blanket. The sick were cured when she made the sign of the cross over them. At times when she meditated, the sisters saw a rainbow aura surrounding her. One Christmas Eve, Clare was too ill to rise from her bed to attend Mass at the new Basilica of St. Francis. Although she was more than a mile away she saw Mass on the wall of her dormitory. So clear was the vision that the next day she could name the friars at the celebration. It was for this last miracle that she has been named patroness of television. In the spirit of St. Clare’s great devotion to the Eucharist and ministry to the sick and shut-in, the Society of St. Clare seeks to ensure that the sick and shut-in of St. Ambrose Parish are able to receive the Eucharist on a regular basis. Each Sunday, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bring Holy Communion to the residents of Lincoln Place.  Also they assist at the Monthly Masses celebrated at Lincoln Place and Albion Court, local homes for the elderly and infirm.  Many of these ministers bring Holy Communion to parishioners who are shut-in and unable to join the regular weekly Mass.  Their important work of bringing the Eucharistic Lord to the ill, infirm, and elderly is under the patronage of St. Clare.